Letters

President Trump recently revisited the friendly confines of West Virginia. It was very reminiscent of seeing him at WWE events beating down Vince McMahon a few years back, with his loyal fans bowing to him and shouting “lock her up.”

Fact: The original grant application submitted to the state by Sunset Beach Town Council to fund the proposed dredging project stated that the project comprised “maintenance” dredging with no mention of dredging new areas.

Fact: Nearly one-third of the proposed project is for never-before dredged canals.

Fact: Council has yet to ask taxpayers if they are willing to pay to dredge this new area.

Recently, I was informed a Michigan turn would be installed at the crossroad of Thomasboro and Pea Landing on U.S. 17. The reason given was the number of accidents. It is my opinion this will not decrease the number of accidents.

The proposed Michigan turn will force bicyclists who regularly cross U.S. 17 at Pea Landing and Thomasboro to make right-hand turns and travel on U.S. 17, then cross three lanes of traffic to enter the Michigan turn, then travel back on U.S. 17 to enter Thomasboro or Pea Landing.

I write to congratulate Brunswick County Clerk of Court Jim MacCallum and AMVETS leader Bill Clark for their efforts to bring the N.C. Vietnam veterans wall to the Brunswick County Courthouse.

The memorial is a tribute to the 1,615 servicemen and -women from Brunswick County who died in the Vietnam War. It is on the front lawn of the courthouse, where it will remain through the end of the year.

The wall was built here in Brunswick County by the AMVETS of America using cash donations, volunteer time and donated products.

Regarding the story published in the Aug. 3 edition, the idea for the Sunset Beach Waterfront Market was presented to the Sunset Beach Business and Merchants Association, of which I was a member, in the summer of 2015 after much work and research.

The market began under the umbrella of SBBMA and was managed weekly for a long and short season by four women who later formed the Waterfront Markets LLC. During this time all proceeds were given to support the promotion of the town of Sunset Beach and its member merchants through SBBMA.

The Waterfront Market in Sunset Beach Town Park is very popular and people like it. However, the park is public property for which taxpayers paid more than a million dollars.

If the town were to rent the park out every day of the week for a once-a-year $25 permit payment, I don’t think people will think that’s a good idea. There’s certainly a good chance we are headed in that direction.

There is a serious opiate addiction crisis facing our state, and personally our county, creating more crime, homelessness, overpopulated institutions and the list goes on. Authorities across the nation have expressed deepest concern over the spread of addiction that is crippling our nation. This trend touches all demographics and all corners of society, with the nation’s death rate from opioid overdoses now surpassing total deaths from homicides and car accidents combined.

Editor’s note: The writer is a candidate for Sunset Beach Town Council in the Nov. 7 municipal election.

To the editor:

Shirking responsibility and failing to provide equal services to all citizens, Sunset Beach Town Council on June 20 embarked on a new path to block equal distribution of our tax money. This time it is “legal precedent.” But first, let’s sidetrack the issues and pass a motion to research the methods used in the annexation of Sunset Lakes.

When a freshman arrives at the college or university of his choice, he often brings preconceived ideas; however, he may not have anticipated the deeply ingrained and unique traditions of the institution.